The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-04-28
A THANKSGIVING PARTY.

A THANKSGIVING PARTY.
It was d heat, comfortable kitchen.
though wholly lacking in ornament.
The floor was as whlte as soap and
sand and willing hands could make it,
and was wellmatched by the angular
wooden chairs, which had become al
mostghastly from rspeatedscrubbings.
The brass knobs on the dresser,
and even the pendulum of the loud
ticking old clock shone like FURNISHED
gold, rejecting the beams of freight
which frightened the dusky room.
The tea kettle sang merrily, and
Aunt Esther passed to and fro, pre-.
pairing the evening meal and watching
for the return of her husband from
the wood lot.
A little girl stood by the western
window trying to read by the fast
fading light. Her delicate face, long,
shining curls and dainty apparel,
formed bright contrast to the plain
room.
what are you looking for in the
almanac, my child? You'll injure your
eyes,"
II am trying to find when Thanks.
giving is; but / can't see any longer
"You will be more apt to find it in
the last paper. Lucy; but 1 can tell
you-it is 8 week from next Thurs.
day."
"Oh, goody! so soon? Well have
one OF those big turkeys and a jolly
time, won't WEI"
II am afraid not. dear; what put
that into your little head?"'
"Why, auntie, you told me when
first came that those turkeys were for
Thanksgiving. I've thought OF it ever
SINCE"
"Oh. yes, did tell you so, Lucy, but
l meant that we raised them to sell
for Thanksgiving. We have not kept
the day since we were first married;
your uncle doesn't care for such
things. missed it sadly at first, for
we always kept the holidays when
was a girl at home, but I've got used
to it now, after all these years."
II don't think I could" ventured
the child, looking solemnly through
the twilight at the turkeys, comfort t.
ably settled for the night on the bare
limbs OF the old apple tree. ".Well,
don't shed any tears yet, Lucy; if you
can get Uncle Jerry to consent, I'll do
my part. Better not speak of it till
after supper" she added in a whisper,
as she heard her husbands footsteps
at the door.
So, with what patience she could
command, Lucy waited till the supper
was cleared away. and they were gath.
cred around the cracking wood.fire,
Aunt Esther with her knitting and
Uncle Jerry with his paper.
Lucy was his only sisters child.
She was spending several months
with him, while her parents Travelled
in the South, hoping to benefit her
mothers health. Two brothers and
one sister were at college, and were
to spend their Christmas HOLIDAYS
at the farm house. This was the
first time Lucy had been so long from
home, and occasionally she suffer
ed from homesickness; and now,
with the fear that the loved holiday
was to be sighted, an attack of that
dread malady was certainly imminent.
She felt her courage ebbying away,
and hopelessly sat very still, looking
into the fire, till all the curling, with.
Ing flames melted into one broad sheet
OF bright mistlness, and then-there
were two big tears on her rosy cheeks.
Uncle Jerry, who, underneath his
hard exterior, had a really kind heart,
was watching her over mis- paper, and
saw the tears, the sly, quick brush OF
two little white hands, and q brave
effort to keep back a sob which was
struggling to escape. "Homesick!''
he thought; land no wonder, with two
dull old folks like u.s." and for a. mo-
ment he wanted to take her In his arms
and soothe her as her own father
would; but he had so long depressed
all tender ways, that he could not
manifest his sympathy. But some
thing must be done. Rising abruptly,
he took a pan from the dresser and
started for the cellar, saying, esther,
hold the light for me; L want some oil
them fall apples; they won't keep
long"
By the time share of the fruit had
disappeared, Lucy had reeained her
good spirits, and with new courage,
exclaimed: "Uncle Jerry, can't we
have Thanksgiving this year? I'd like
to-"
Nonsense. child. What would it
amount tor"
"Why. we'd have a jolly time. We
always did at home"
eyes; a big dinner one day and the
doctor the next"
ut never made me sick-never in
the world"
But what's the good, anyhow"
. "Mamma thinks it's good and she's
always right. Just last year papa
thought we'd better not have a din
ner, for mamma wasn't strong, and
we were so disappointed-I was, any
way-and mamma put her arm around
me and said: We'll all help and do
the best we can, for We mustn't miss
keeping q holiday. When my boys
and girls havegone out into the world,
want them to have the remembrance OF
happy childhood and a pleasant
home to help them over the hard places
they will find. It will make them bet
tor men and women, I'm sure; so order
the turkey, papa I remember it all,
Uncle Jerry, cause 1 thought mamma
was going to cry, her voice trembled
so, and believe I should have cried
myself if she hadn't said turkey"
"she never had many good things to
remember" said Uncle Jerry. thinking